A staggering 92% of organizations face a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, with many reporting multiple unfilled positions, which poses a critical challenge to their security posture.

A recent report reveals that 95% of organizations experienced AI-related security incidents in the past year, yet only 66% of employees understand the associated threats, highlighting a significant awareness gap.

Despite the widespread adoption of generative AI tools, with 46% of employees using approved third-party options, 28% have unrestricted access to public generative AI, raising concerns about oversight and security.

To tackle cybersecurity challenges, organizations are urged to invest in AI-driven solutions, simplify their security infrastructures, and enhance awareness of AI-related threats.

Cisco's ANZ Chief Technology Officer stresses the importance of closing the threat awareness divide and modernizing security measures to combat external threats.

The report indicates that hyper-connectivity and AI are complicating security challenges, contributing to low cybersecurity preparedness among organizations.

According to Cisco's Cybersecurity Readiness Index, only 7% of Indian firms are considered cybersecurity mature, underscoring the need for improved security measures.

New attack vectors targeting AI systems are emerging, with increasingly sophisticated methods that complicate detection and response efforts.

Over half of organizations (57%) reported suffering cyberattacks in the last year, with external threats perceived as a greater risk than internal ones, further emphasizing the need for enhanced defense strategies.

The Cybersecurity Readiness Index evaluates organizational readiness across five pillars: identity intelligence, network resilience, machine trustworthiness, cloud reinforcement, and AI fortification.

In hybrid work environments, 90% of organizations face heightened security risks due to employees accessing networks from unmanaged devices, which complicates security efforts.

Cisco's Chief Product Officer emphasizes the urgent need for organizations to rethink their cybersecurity strategies in light of the evolving risks introduced by AI.